The USCIS has issued a revised version of Form 1-9, the use of which will become mandatory beginning September 18, 2017.  The Form I-9 is used by employers for verifying identity and employment authorization of newly hired employees.  The key change in the new form is the revision related to the list of acceptable documents […]

A foreign national entering the U.S. is issued a Form I-94 by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry.  The Form I-94 is essentially an arrival/departure record that states the date until which the foreign national can lawfully remain in the U.S., after which he or she is required to […]

The U.S. Department of State sent out a cable on July 12, 2017 to all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, instructing them to inform their host governments regarding new standards pertaining to U.S. travel and immigration.  These new standards that have been set out in the State Department’s cable apply to 191 countries and have […]

Biometric enrollment comprising fingerprints and facial image scans will be taken along with the visa applications at the VFS India Application Centers in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.  Applicants availing the electronic visas however, will be required to enroll their biometrics with the immigration authorities at the select ports of entry upon landing.  Process to Enroll Biometrics […]

The State of Israel recently launched a new type of visa called the “Innovation Visa Program”, which is a joint project of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Interior which is the State agency that issues visas to Israel. This visa program might be of interest as it is specifically introduced for entrepreneurs […]

The Indian government had introduced a new visa category – the Intern Visa – earlier this year in an effort to keep up with growing business needs and trends.  The Intern visa is available to foreign nationals intending to pursue an internship with NGOs, companies and educational institutions in India.  Detailed guidelines regarding this visa category have been issued by a few Indian consulates thereby bringing more […]

International travelers whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives or to attend a short-term yoga programme, are eligible to enter India on an electronic tourist visa (e-TV). The validity of this type of visa is 60 days from the date of arrival in India with double […]

There are some significant variances which can be seen in the immigration law and policies of Canada and the U.S. Given the current climate under the Trump administration, the U.S. each day is becoming overtly anti-immigrant whereas Canada on the other hand being an immigrant-friendly country is aggressively soliciting immigrants from across the globe. The […]

Dowry is a big social evil, unfortunately, still prevalent in the Indian society.  Dowry is the property and money that a bride brings to her husband’s house at the time of her marriage.   Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961 in India, it continues to be practiced throughout the country, particularly in the rural areas […]

A Medical Visa for India is available to foreign nationals desiring to seek medical treatment in recognized hospitals and medical centers in India.  The initial duration of the Medical Visa is up to one year or the period of treatment, whichever is lesser, with a maximum of three entries during the one year.  It has […]